RoadVitals

2005 Saturn Relay Body & structure Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the body or structure system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Body & structure reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Dec 15, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
11%
of 91 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Saturn Relay submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming body or structure

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structure
Filed Dec 15, 2010

ELECTRIC SLIDING DOOR WILL OPEN BY ITSELF ON MY 2005 SATURN RELAY. HAVE TO DISABLE DOOR TO BE SURE IT DOES NOT OPEN WHILE DRIVING, BUT WILL ENABLE ITSELF AND START OPENING BY ITSELF AGAIN. AS SATURN IS OUT OF BUSINESS, DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO TURN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10370728
Incident
Nov 15, 2010
Body & structure
Filed Jun 27, 2010

POWER SLIDING DOORS DON'T LATCH PROPERLY. MOTOR WILL KEEP RUNNING ON DOORS & AS YOU ARE DRIVING, IF YOU HIT A BUMP OR MAKE A SHARP TURN, THE CAR DINGS LIKE THE DOOR HAS OPENED. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS IS TO PULL OVER & OPEN & THEN RECLOSE THE DOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10340320
Incident
Jun 24, 2010
Mileage
62,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 6, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN RELAY. WHENEVER THE CONTACT TURNS ON THE VEHICLE REGARDLESS IF IT IS DRIVEN OR NOT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR OPENED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE DOOR HAS ALSO OPENED AND WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CLOSE MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89000.

NHTSA ID
10298485
Incident
Jul 15, 2008
Mileage
89,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 30, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN RELAY. WHILE DRIVING THE REAR SLIDING DOOR OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. HE PULLED OVER AND IT TOOK 10 MINUTES TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THE CENSORS AND MOTOR WERE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR HE EXPERIENCED AN IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED AT HIS EXPENSE. NONE ON THE REPAIRS HAVE REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112107.

NHTSA ID
10297585
Incident
Sep 28, 2006
Mileage
30,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 26, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN RELAY. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DOOR ALARM SOUNDS AND INDICATES THAT BOTH REAR PASSENGER DOORS ARE OPEN. THE CONTACT MUST PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND CLOSE THE DOORS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS; THEREFORE, SHE WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,442. UPDATED 02/02/09.*LJ UPDATED 02/03/09. *JB

NHTSA ID
10252844
Incident
Nov 1, 2008
Mileage
54,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Dec 10, 2008

WE PURCHASE THE VAN MARCH 2006 AS THE FIRST OWNERS. THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM STARTED IN JUNE OF 2007 WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR WOULD OPEN BACK UP WHEN CLOSING. WE TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE DOOR JAM SWITCH. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME WAS 11,584. FROM THAT TIME TO NOW DEC 2008, WITH 31,000 MILES, THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED AND ADDING IN THE DRIVER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR. THE PROBLEMS RANGED FROM DOORS CLOSING AND GETTING AN ALARM INDICATING THAT THE DOOR(S) WERE OPEN TO HAVING TO PLACE THE DOORS IN MANUAL IN ORDER TO CLOSE THEM AND STILL GETTING THE ALARM AS IF THE DOORS WERE OPEN. AFTER 15 VISITS TO THE DEALER AND ALL INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PARTS REPLACED, THE PROBLEMS STILL COME BACK. THERE WERE TWO INSTANCES THAT WE FOUND, AFTER THE DOORS WERE REPAIRED, THEY WOULD NOT LOCK. THIS WAS FOUND BY ONE OF OUR CHILDREN OPENING THE DOOR BEFORE IT WAS UNLOCKED AND THE SECURITY SYSTEM SOUNDED. AFTER THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT IT WOULD NOT LOCK BECAUSE OF THE DOOR COMING OUT OF ALIGNMENT NOT ALLOWING IT TO ENGAGE. THIS MAKES ME WONDER IF THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND WE WERE NOT AWARE. ALSO THE FACT THAT IF IT DOES NOT LOCK, THEN IT COULD OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SATURN CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES WITH OUR CONCERNS TO NO RESOLVE OF THE PROBLEMS. ALL THEY COULD DO IS OFFER MINIMAL COVERAGE THAT DOES NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE DOORS AND I HAVE NO PEACE OF MIND WHILE TRAVELING IN THE VAN WITH MY FAMILY. I HAVE READ OF NUMEROUS OTHER 2005 SATURN RELAY OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AS WE HAVE. I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL TAKE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH BEFORE GENERAL MOTORS TAKES THIS PROBLEM SERIOUSLY. THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW THERE IS A DEFECT/DESIGN PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT EVEN THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES CONTINUOUS REPAIRS TO THIS MODEL OF GM VAN AND A DESIGN CHANGE IN THE 2008 MODELS OF GM VANS WITH POWER SLIDING DOORS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10251421
Incident
Jun 14, 2007
Mileage
11,584 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 7, 2008

RIGHT SIDE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT STAY SHUT. THE DOOR HAS NEVER OPENED DURING DRIVING, BUT WE HAD TO SHUT THE DOOR PROBABLY 6 TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD FINALLY STAY CLOSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 OR 4 TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10214122
Incident
Nov 4, 2007
Mileage
32,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesVisibility
Filed Dec 12, 2007

FAILURE OF SLIDING SIDE DOOR TO LOCK FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILURE OF REAR BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10211770
Incident
Nov 1, 2007
Body & structure
Filed Jul 9, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SATURN RELAY. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 5-45 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BEEPING NOISE. THE NOISE INDICATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS OPEN, HOWEVER, THE DOOR WAS CLOSED. SHE HAD TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR FOR THE BEEPING NOISE TO STOP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY CLEANED THE DOOR PINS. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY CHANGED THE HARD SIDE TRIM. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED FOR THE THIRD TIME. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 12,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA ID
10195669
Incident
Jan 1, 2006
Mileage
5,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Mar 30, 2006

SATURN RELAY STARTED LEAKING WATER A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. TOOK IN FOR REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES, FILED FOR LEMON LAW, SATURN HAD THEIR FINAL ATTEMPT TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND FAILED. I WAS TOLD BY THE CORP OFFICE TO TAKE CAR BACK IN SO THEY COULD VERIFY THAT IT WAS STILL LEAKING, DID THAT AND THEY DID IN FACT VERIFY IN WRITING THAT IT WAS LEAKING, SATURN REFUSES TO ABIDE BY THE LAW AND GIVE ME A REFUND OR NEW VEHICLE, IN FACT THEY WOULDN'T GIVE ME ANY OPTION OTHER THAN TAKE IT TO BE FIXED. AGAIN??? GOT MYSELF AN ATTORNEY!!! *JB

NHTSA ID
10154222
Incident
Oct 10, 2005
Mileage
1,578 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .